Custom fences
Custom Privacy Fences and Gates Built to Stay Straight
Pressure-treated, cedar and mixed-material fences and gates, with posts set below frost.
CarpentryBoys builds custom privacy fences, gates and pool enclosures in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Brampton, Mississauga and across the GTA. We set posts about 1.2 m (4 ft) deep, below the frost line, confirm your property line and your city's fence height limit, and request utility locates before the first hole is dug.
Your project scope
Custom Fences by a general contractor
Fences are where CarpentryBoys began, building for family and friends in Hamilton before kitchens and basements. The lesson hasn't changed: a fence that leans after three winters was almost always set too shallow.
What's included
One contract covers the whole scope
Privacy fences
Board-on-board, horizontal slat and shadow-box designs in treated lumber or cedar.
Gates and hardware
Steel-reinforced frames, heavy hinges and latches at the height the use requires.
Pool enclosures
Self-closing, self-latching gates and climb-resistant infill to your city's by-law.
Old fence removal
Tear-out, old footings pulled where in the way, and disposal.
How the work runs
Our fences process, step by step
- 01
Site visit and layout
We walk the line and check grades and your survey.
- 02
Bylaw check and quote
We confirm height and pool rules, then quote by linear foot and gate.
- 03
Locates
We request Ontario One Call locates and a private locate for lines you own.
- 04
Posts, then panels
Posts are set to a string line and cure before boards go on.
- 05
Gates, cleanup and walkthrough
Gates are hung, debris is hauled away, and we walk the line with you.
Recent work
Fences we’ve built
Pricing guidance
How much does a custom fence cost in the GTA?
Typical 2026 prices for an installed 1.8 m (6 ft) privacy fence in the GTA and Hamilton run $55 to $200 per linear foot before HST, depending on material. Gates are extra.
Pressure-treated privacy fence
$55–$80 per linear ft
Posts below frost, board-on-board or standard boards.
Cedar or horizontal slat fence
$80–$120 per linear ft
Tighter tolerances and more framing.
Aluminum frame or composite
$120–$200 per linear ft
Low-maintenance boards in metal posts.
What drives the cost
- Length, corners and grade changes
- Double drive gates
- Old fence and footing removal
- Rocky or root-filled ground
- Pool enclosure hardware
HST (13%) is extra. Single gates typically add $600–$1,500 each. A written quote follows a free site visit.
Financing options →Permits & code
Do you need a permit to build a fence in the GTA?
A standard residential fence usually doesn't need a building permit, but it must follow your municipality's fence by-law, and a fence around a pool needs a pool enclosure permit in most GTA cities.
Fence heights are set by municipal by-laws, not the Ontario Building Code, and corner lots often have sight-triangle rules that keep fences low near the intersection. A fence on the property line should be agreed in writing with your neighbour first, including who pays.
How deep should fence posts be in Ontario?
Set fence posts about 1.2 m (4 ft) deep in the GTA and Hamilton, which is below the typical frost line. Shallower posts get pushed up by frost and lean within a few winters.
Quick installs often stop at 600–750 mm. We use a bell-shaped concrete footing or a gravel base, space posts no more than 2.4 m (8 ft) apart, and give gate posts a larger section and deeper footing.
Spread the cost: Financeit renovation financing, with payments that start once the work is finished.
See FinancingFrequently asked questions
Custom Fences: questions we’re asked before contract
Most GTA municipalities allow backyard and side-yard fences up to about 2.0 m (6 ft 6 in), measured from finished grade. Brampton, Mississauga and Hamilton all use that limit for typical residential lots, while front yard fences are usually capped near 1.0 m. Privacy screens around a deck or hot tub may have their own rules.
Pool fences in GTA municipalities typically must be at least 1.5 m (5 ft) high, with self-closing, self-latching gates and no footholds for climbing. Hamilton's enclosure by-law sets that 1.5 m minimum, and other cities add rules on gaps and latch height. Most require a permit and an inspection before the pool is filled.
You need to know exactly where the line is, which means a survey with visible pins or a new stake-out by an Ontario Land Surveyor if the pins are missing. Building even 150 mm onto a neighbour's lot can lead to a demand to move the fence. Where the line is uncertain, we set the fence a little inside your property.
Choose pressure-treated lumber for the lowest cost and longest ground-contact life, and cedar for appearance and stability above ground. Treated wood should dry for 3 to 6 months before staining, while cedar can be sealed sooner. Expect roughly 15 to 20 years from either when posts are set below frost and boards are kept stained.
Gates sag because their weight pulls the latch side down over time. Prevention means a diagonal brace or steel frame from the bottom hinge corner to the latch side, heavy hinges and an oversized gate post set deeper than line posts. An adjustable turnbuckle kit can pull a dropped gate back, but a properly braced gate rarely needs one.
Where we do this
Custom Fences across our service area
Related services
Often built together
Book A Site Visit For Custom Fences
Book a free site visit. You'll get a written, itemised quote and a straight answer on permits and timing.
Financing available through Financeit. See options